Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

McGrath impressed by Australia's pace attack

Last updated on: January 2, 2012 11:14 IST
Former Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath (left) poses with Brad Haddin (right) and James Pattinson during a McGrath Foundation event at the SCG on Monday

Pace legend Glenn McGrath foresees Australia complete a 4-0 whitewash over India in the ongoing Test series. McGrath makes this claim following the top-class performance of the home team's pace bowling attack, especially the young James Pattinson.

"Yesterday, I said 3-0 but I stuffed up because I thought there were only three Tests. But definitely 4-0 now," said McGrath at the SCG where he was promoting McGrath Foundation for breast cancer.

"The way the guys have played at the moment I've been very impressed. I think a team builds itself around a bowling attack and you look at the bowling attack the team has at the moment.

"It will give the rest of the guys a lot of confidence so I'm very confident, as confident as I've been in years that this team is something special and expecting big things from them too," he added.

Pattinson's attitude gets a thumbs-up from McGrath

Last updated on: January 2, 2012 11:14 IST
James Pattinson

McGrath had words of praise for pace bowling sensation James Pattinson.

"I've been very impressed to look at James, the way he comes on to bowl. He's big, he's strong and he's nice and tall.

"He has a good action, he bowls in great areas and got good pace and a great attitude. I've really enjoyed watching him bowl and getting stuck into the Indian batsmen," he said.

Pattinson was man of the match at the MCG for his seven wickets and unbeaten knocks of 18 and 37 in two innings. Above all, he breathed fire and bowled with aggression at the Indians.

"Definitely, it's all about attitude and we're fast bowlers at the end of the day. You don't bowl half volleys and skip around the park smiling at batsmen, do you?" said McGrath.

"I wish I could bowl that quick and it's been a great start for his career to have a couple of five-wicket hauls under the belt. The confidence has got to be up.

McGrath expecting big things from bowlers

Last updated on: January 2, 2012 11:14 IST
Australia's Ryan Harris bowls during a net session on Monday

"I think he's got a huge future. I wish I started my career as well as James has so I'm expecting huge things from him definitely."

McGrath said Australia would do no harm if they opt to play four fast bowlers in this Test.

"It has spun in the past in Sydney. I like a spinner in the team as a bit of balance but with Ryan Harris with the form he was in before he got injured to bring him back into the team would offer so much and especially playing India in Australian conditions.

"I think the extra bounce we get extra bit of seam movement which actually works in our favour. I've been very impressed with our bowling attack, the way we bowled in Melbourne was great so I'm expecting big things from the boys in this Test match also," he said.
© Copyright 2024 PTI. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of PTI content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent.